The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-03
THE TOP FLOOR L0DGER.
MUSINGS OF THE TENANT OF THE
SMALL ROOM.

Gentlemen on the top floor, look out
for paint"
This was the notice pinned, in big let
tiers, on the wall of the front hall that at
tracted young disciple of Schopenhauer
rs he entered house given over TO the oc-
cupation Of small rooms by young men,
and then assembled to a coffin shaped,
dingy receptacle, containing an iron bed
stead and haggard wasbstand, called his
room. He sat down on the iron bound
trunk and meditated upon the notice he
had read.
He knew well that it meant smell Of
raw paint and an upturned house for
couple Of weeks He knew the sign
would next warn occupants OF his own
floor TO look out for the oily and adhesive
mixture, and that so it would work
| down stairs He knew that it meant
preparation for the winter reception of
similarly situated young men, but who
had been more lucky in getting away for
the summer. He could prophesy 10 day
when the buxom landlady would inform
him that the time of summer prices was
over. and that in order to hold possession
10 the 10 by box which he designated
his home he must submit to an increase
clothing. the Overcoat and the extra
gloves and shoes, the young man pom
| dercd until the pangs Of hunger drove him
off 10 the cheap restaurant around the
corner, where a continued wrestling with
dried mp steak and elastic bread at least
revived the circulation.
UNHAPPY AND sPfRITLEss.
The young man formerly lived in the
country, where high mountains had tow
cred over a bright and cheerful home. lie
had been supplied there with all the ncces-
saries Of everyday life in abundance, and
the society Of straightforward, honest and
pretty girls had kept far away every idea
Of pessimistic nature. But in the
changes OF time he found himself alone
in the great city, without friend OF even
enemy, aud the great loneliness from being
| among so many strangers who cared not
a straw whence he came or where he went
had come over him as a great cloud Of
snow in a winter gale shutting ont from
view all the beautiful and throwing
around him mantle OF selfish drearness.
His thoughts turned naturally to the nm
happy and spritless and his mind had be
come a mutterirg mass Of cynical tenden-
ambition and the first animation Of
thought Of future success had been blotted
ont The silent life in the dreary lodging
house had much TO do with this, and the
young man knew IL.
But the young man had the consolation
Of knowing that there were thousands Of
| others i'm the same boat These are the
young men who receive small salaries aud
are either working their way up in the
world or else down. Many are unable TO
| live in better rooms, while others, with a
desire TO save money, choose 70 live in re-
stricted quarters There are thousands
| Of such in this town. The room will cost
| 81 80 or So For twenty cents the young
man gets his eggs and coffee for break
| fast, a sandwich at lunch time is ten cents
more For dinner his roast or srlOin steak
and coffee comes 10 thirty cents. He
walks TO and from his work, so that
| his expense is little over 81 per week.
| He NAV get board for little less but IT
Is doubtful if he can average much lower
| than the above.
BRIGHT SIDE.
But there is a bright side TO life I'm a
lodging house, and IFS popularity is on the
/ NNN'f"'
! lodging house is not meant those east side
rookenes in which beds are piled in layers
as berths in a steamer, in which a crowd
Of half dressed, half washed tramps are
huddled together, but that class Of houses
found all over the city upon whose door
posts in modest print or writing IS an
nounced the fact that furnished rooms are
10 be rented at low prices Certain parts
of the city are becoming more generally
used for this business. The section Of
town below Twenty third street re
naming free from the encrOachment
| Of business firms is almost wholly
given over 10 boarding and lodging house
/ landladies, and the lodging houses ar0
| increasing There are houses for young
women only, and there are big, tall apart
ment houses in which only men can Sc
cure rooms, in different ranges of fur
nishment, and, consequently, different
ranges in price The places set aside fOr
young women are benefit that few who
have not tried them know Of The young
| typewriter or dry goods store emplOye Is
free from all annOyances. There is no
scanty Drained youth TO be always forcing
| his unWelcOme attentions, and she is free
from the stares and sleeps eyes that
often meet her glances around the big
boarding house tables.
Eyes, the demand this fall for furnished
rooms is fully up 10 that Of last, said an
agent who keeps list of boarding and
lodging houses, and vouches for them to
the anxious inquirer for winters home.
"There is a certain class who are always
on the lookout for comfortable rooms
| those who have become tired Of boarding
house fare and think the restaurants will
| supply their wants in better style. Clerks
and statesmen who do not care where they
eat. as long as the bed is not far from the
store. look with favor upon the free and
easy life in hired rooms. Those whose
employment is irregular in its hours
must adopt this kind Of life. New York
| Times.
How Horses Rest.